Electric controller for multiunit machines



June 24, 1947. A. J. HORTON ET AL ELECTRIC CONTROLLER FOR IULTIUNI'I' MACHINES 7, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 1947- A. J. HORTON El AL 2,423,023

ELECTRIC CONTROLLER FOR IULTIUNIT IAC HINES Filed Aug. 7. 1944 5 Shoots-Sheet 2 ku udl 7.. in i Jane 24, 1947. A, HORTdN ET AL 2,423,028

BLECTR IC CONTROLLER FOR HULTIUNIT MACHINES Filed Aug. 7, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 June 24, 1947. A. J. HORTON Er AL 2,423,028

ELECTRIC CONTROLLER FOR IULTIUHIT IACHIIIES Filed Aug. 7, 1944 5 Sheets-Shoefi 4 June 24, 1947.

A. J. HORTON El. AL

ELECTRIC, CONTROLLER FORIULTIUNIT IACHINBS Filed Aug. 7, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 tors for the folders.

Patented June 24, 1947 ELECTRIC CONTROLLER FOR MULTIUNIT MACHINES Albert J. Horton, White Plains, and William C. Wieking, Woodhaven, N. Y., assignors to R. Hoe & 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York ApplicationAugust 7, 1944-, Serial No. 548,438 Q 10 Claims. (Cl. 270) This invention relates to multi-unit machines, and more particularly to improved means for driving multi-unit printing machines which have a plurality of printing units and folders that may be grouped in various combinations, depending on the number of pages in the product that is to be printed. I

Modern multi-unit machines used for printing newspapers and similar products usually have their printing units and folders all arranged in alignment with three or four printing units between folders, and a plurality of motors are provided so that a machine may be operated as several separate printing machines, each of which can be separately started and stopped as required, each such separate machine including a folder and the number of printing units required for the work in hand. It is common practice to provide a motor adjacent each folder, and in some cases additional motors are provided which operate in conjunction with the motor at the folder to drive each group of printing units in use. However, in order to obtain the highest efficiency in the operation of these large multiunit machines, it is, considered advantageous to provide an individual motor having some excess power, for each printing unit, and supply no me- By this practice, groups having any number of printing units and a folder may be formed, and the motor power included in the group will be properly proportioned to the power required for driving it. I

The invention contemplates as one of its objects, the provision in a multi-unit machine of an improved control system including a plurality of motor controllers, one for each driving motor in the machine, with control stations for each machine unit and means whereby the arrangement of the electrical connections to operate various groupings of units may be made with facility.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved control system for a multi-unit machine in which each machine unit is provided with a motor suitable to drive the unit at running speed and certain of the motors are arranged with gearing whereby those motors alone will each drive several of the units at a slow speed.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved control system for a multi-unit printing machine having a plurality of motor controllers and control stations, that will be relatively simple in construction, as well as convenient, practical, serviceable and efficient in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, that will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the mechanical and electrical details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

A practical embodiment of the invention, as applied to a multi-unit printing machine drive of the type disclosed in Patent Number 2,356,160, is. illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a portion of the side elevation of a multi-unit print- ,ing machine, to which the control system of the invention is applied;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the portion of the machine shown in Figure 1 and showing the motors for driving the machine;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of one of the driving motors shown in Figure 2, partly in section as seen on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the gearing as seen on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of one of the master control panels that are used with some of the motors;

Figure 6 is a schematic wiring diagram of the master panel shown in Figure 5, and also of a dependent panel both connected to their respective motors and control stations.

Figure '7 is a schematic wiring diagram showing a modified form of the invention.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show a typical newspaper printing machine having six printing units and two folders, there being three printing units between the folders. It will be understood that the line of printing units may be extended indefinitely at either end, with the units all in line, or additional units may be placed in another line positioned either angularly to, or aligned in parallel relation with the units shown in the drawings, and folders may be placed so they ar separated either by a greater or lesser number of units asdesired, any such variation being within, the capacity of control equipment made in accordance with the invention.

The printing units, the folders and many other members of the equipment as herein shown, are preferably identical, and all such similar members are identified by the same numeral, but for convenience, a capital letter is added to the numeral to identify each particular member whenever it is individually mentioned, thus the several printing units H are indicated 1 IA, H B,

ND, NE, HF and NH. Each of the printing units includes two form cylinders I! that cooperate with impression cylinders l3. A folder C is disposed between the printing units I IB and HD and another folder HG is disposed between the printing units HF and NH. The printing units and folders are thus positioned in alignment and a plurality of groups; each including a folder and the number of units required for the work in hand, may be arranged, and thereby utilize the equipment to the best advantage.'

Webs i8 (Figure 1) are led upwardly from a suitable source of supply (not shown) to each of the units and after being printed thereby, are slit, associated and in the usual manner fed toward and into the folders [4C and HG.

Each of the printing units and the folders are connected to a main line driving shaft I! (Figure 1) through vertical shafts I8 and i9 respectively, that are geared to the main line shaft II by means of pairs of cooperating bevel gears 2 IA, 2113, MC, MD, ZIE, 21F, MG, and NH. The shafts l8 and iii are connected to the cylinders of each unit and to the folders respectively by suitable gearing (not shown) in accordance with the usual practice. The main line shaft I1 is made up of unit shaft sections HA, MB, ND, ME, I IF, and HH, one for each printing unit, and sections i'l'C and HG one for each folder. The shaft sections are connected by couplings designated as MAB, 2213C, 22CD, 22DE, 22EF, ZZFG. ZZGH and 22133, located between the ends of the unit shaft sections. Any of the couplings may be disengaged to separate the line shaft into two or more groups of sections.

Electric motor equipment, as herein shown comprising electric motors 23A, 231), 23E, 23H, and 24B and 24F, and preferably equal in number to the printing units, is provided. Motors 2413 and 24F are master motors and are arranged to drive the main line shaft at printing speeds, directly through magnetic clutches 26B and 23F, and bevel gears 21B and NF respectively, or, for slow speed operation, as when threading aweb through the machine, they may drive the main line shaft through speed reduction gearing 28B and 28F.

Motors 23A, 23D, 23E, and 231-1 are dependent motorswhich drive the main line shaft only at printing speeds, and through cooperating bevel gears 21A, 21D, 21E, and 21H.

Each speed reduction gearing 28 (Figures 2-4) includes a gear pinion 29 secured on a motor shaft 3i and in mesh with a gear 32, secured on a Jack shaft 33. A gear pinion 34, secured on the shaft 33, meshes with a cup-shaped overrunning clutch gear 36, freely rotatable on a shaft 31, which is in alignment with the motor shaft 31. The gear 33 has an overrunning clutch device 38 operably associated therewith,'that comprises a ratchet wheel 39 formed integral with and on the inner face of the cup-shaped overrunning clutch gear 38. A disc 4! keyed to the shaft 31 carries a plurality of pawls 42 each of which is urged by a spring 43 into cooperating engagement with ratchet teeth 44 provided on the periphery of the wheel 39, to drive the shaft 31 in the same direction of rotation as that of the motor shaft 3i. The shaft 31 is connected to the main line shaft I! through the bevel gears 21.

The magnetic clutch 23 includes one clutch part 46 secured to the motor shaft 3| and another energized through slip rings 48 in a manner to 4 be hereinafter explained, the motor (243 or 24F) will drive the main line shaft 11 at high speed; but when the clutch is deenergized the main line shaft I1 is driven at a reduced speed by the motor'(24B or 24F). The motor shafts II are each equipped with a magnetically operated brake 49 and the shafts 31 are each equipped with a magnetically operated brake 5|. Each of the shafts 52 of dependent motors 23 are equipped with a magneticaly operated brake 53.

It will be understood, that instead of either form of gearing having a Jack shaft as herein shown, any suitable form of planetary gearing may be used between the shafts 3| of the motors (24B and 24F) and the shafts 31 that carry the bevel gears 21, if suitable remotely controlled mechanism is provided to actuate the clutch or clutches required to selectively bring the high and slow speed gears into operation.

Figure 1 shows four dependent motor panels or controllers 54A, 54D, 54B, and 54H each arranged to control one of the dependent motors 23A, 23D, 23E, and 23H respectively, and also shows two master motor panels or controllers 55B and 55F. arranged to operate the master motors 24B and 24F respectively. These controllers with their pilot motors and operating mechanism as hereinafter described are usually mounted on a balcony or other suitable location away from the machine. Each dependent controller 54 (Figure 6) comprises a solenoid operated motor contactor 51 and a speed control rheostat 58, for controlling the various dependent motors 23. Each of the master controllers 56 includes a pair of solenoid operated motor contactors 59 and 6|, a speed control rheostat 5B, and a master control assembly 62. Each of the speed control rheostats 58 (Figures 5 and 6) includes resistances 63 connected to a plurality of face-plate contacts 64, that may be contacted by a crosshead 68 of the master controller 56 or by a crosshead 61 of the dependent controller 54 respectively to progressively short circuit the steps of resistance 53 and thus control the speed of the motors in a well known manner. Each master controller 56 (Figure 5) includes a plurality of suitable contact strips 68 and brushes B9 operatively cooperating with the master control assembly 62 which has a plurality of solenoid operated relays designated as: slow-speed relay ll, off relay 1!, fast speed relay 14, a "drive motor relay 16, an on relay H, a first auxiliary relay 18, a safe relay 19, a stop" relay 8|, a second auxiliary" relay 82, a signal" relay 83, a paper break" relay 84 and a magnetic clutch relay 86. Each of the relays are provided with a suitable number of normallyopen and normally-closed switches which are operated by their solenoids. For convenience the solenoid of each relay is designated by the relay numeral primed, as H, while the switches are designated by the relay numeral followed by a lower-case letter as H0. or Hb. A double-pole, double-throw transfer switch 81 which is normally closed toward the right (Figure 6) is also associated with each master control panel 56B and 56F.

A pilot or control line shaft 89 (Figure 1) is made in sections 89A, 89B, 89D, 89E, 89F and 89H, equal in number to the total number of motors 23 and 24, and the shaft sections are connected by electrically operated couplings designated as SIAB, SIBD, SIDE, BIEF, QIFH and BIHJ located between the ends of the unit sections. The sections 89B and 89F of the pilot shaft are driven by the pilot motors 92B and HF respectively of adjacent control-cable sections through electrically operated couplings an and 331' and pairs of bevel gears 94B and 64F. The pilot shaft sections 63A, 69D, 83E and NH raise or lower the crossheads 61 of (the several dependent controllers 54, by being coupled thereto by paired bevel gears 36 and threaded shafts 91. The "pilot shaft sections 6313 and 63F raise or lower the crossheads 66 of the master controllers 56, through paired bevel gears 36 and threaded shafts 31. Thus either pilot motor 923 or 92F operating alone or both pilot motors operating together can actuate all the crossheads and thus the motor contactors 59.6I of the master controllers 56B and 66F. From the motor contactors of each controller, three wires extend by way of a circuit I04 to a stator portion of each of the wound-rotor induction motors 23 and 24. From the rotors of each of the motors, three conductors are connected by a circuit I 06 to each of the speed control rheostats 58 of the several master and dependent controllers. At one point a tap I01 from the three conductors of the main power circuit IOI extends through fuses I00 to energize a control circuit feeder I03 that extends the full length of the printing machine.

A main control cable III (Figure 1), composed of sections IIIA, IIIB, IIID, IIIE, IIIF and IIIH, one for each printing unit, and sections IIIC and IIIG, one for each folder, is preferably placed over the side frames of the units and extends the complete length of the printing machine. A plurality of circuits II2, equal in number to the number of printing units and each consisting of three conductors extends from the control feeder I03 through fuses I I3 to supply threephase control power to three conductors I22, I23 and I24 of the control cable sections IIIA, IIIB, IIID,I'IIE,IIIFandIIIH.

Each of the sections IIIA, IIIB; IIID, IIIE, IIIF, and IIIH, associated with a printing unit, has a push-button control station II4A, II4B, II4D, II4E, IMF and II4H, a paper break switch II6A, GB, SD, SE, IIGF, and IIGH, a contactor coil circuit II I, and a motor brake circuit I I8 connected thereto. In addition to the above, the sections IIIB and II IF each have a master controller circuit H9 extending to the master control assemblies 62B and 62F respectively. It will be noticed that the sections IIIC and I I I G associated with the folders each have a push-button control station I I4. Only one pushbutton station and one paper break. switch has been shown,.as being associated with each printing unit and folder but more may be provided if desired.

One of a plurality of electrically operated multiswitch relays or sectionalizers IZIAB, I2IBC, I2ICD, IZIDE, I2IEF, I2IFG, I2IGH, and I 2 I HJ is located between each two adjacent printing units and at each side of each folder where there is a. printing unit. Each section alizer is arranged to connect or disconnect a pair with or from each other. As best seen in Figure 6, each secthe control cable III.

tion of the control-cable III is composed of a plurality of conductors I22, I23, I24, I26, I26, I21, I28, I29, I30, HI and I32, and each sectionalizer I2I has a plurality of solenoid operated normally-open switches equal in number to one more than the number of control conductors in The extra switch in each of the sectionalizers controls a solenoid for operating a pilot line shaft coupling to be hereinafter described. The sectionalizer switches, when open,

separate each control conductor into a plurality of sections. It will be noted that the conductors I22, I23, and I24 areline wires fed from the feeder I08 through the fuses H3.

A circuit I34 consisting of a pair of conductors supplies direct current power to the magnetic clutches 26B and 26F, associated with each of the master motors 24B and 24F respectively.

The circuitwhich supplies the clutch 26F may be traced as follows: from one of the direct current conductors (Figure 6) of the circuit I34 through a conductor I36, to the clutch coil 26F, thence through a conductor I31, to a switch 86a of the magnetic clutch relay 86 and through a con ductor I39 to the other conductor of the direct: current circuit I34.

The pilot motors 92B and 92F (Figure l) are controlled by reversing; switches I4I B and Hill, which in turn are controlled by the master control assemblies 623 and 62F, respectively. Circuits I42 connect the pilot motors 32 to the reversing switches MI, and circuits I43 connect the switches IM to the master control assemblies 62. The solenoids H43 and IMF for operating the couplings 93B and 93F are under the control of the same circuit I43 from the master control panel, that feeds the motors 92B and 92F. through the reversing switches I4IB and IMF respectively.

From Figure 1, it will be noted that each main line shaft coupling 22 operably engages a normally-open limit switch- I46 which opens when the coupling is opened to deenergize a circuit I4! connected to a coil I5I (Figure 6) of an associated sectionalizer I2I. Also the sectionalizers I2IAB,'I2ICD, I2IDE, IZIEF, I2IGH, and I2IHJ, each by means of a circuit I48, control the operation of solenoids I49AB, I49BD, I49DE, I43EF, I MPH, and I49HJ, which in turn control the pilot shaft couplings 9 IAB, 9 IBD, 9 IDE, SIEF, QIFH, and SHHJ respectively. Whenever one of the main line couplings 22 is opened a coil I5I of the associated sectionalizer I2I will be deenergized by the opening of the associated coupling switch I46, and a switch I50 in the associated sectionalizer I2I will open the associated pilot shaft coupling 9| by deenergizing its operating solenoid I49. There is no pilot shaft coupling associated with the sectionalzers I2IBC and I ZIFG. However, if either of the sectionalizers I2IBC or I2ICD is opened, the solenoid I49BD will be deenergized and the couplings SIBD will be opened by a spring I52. In like manner, if either of the sectionalizers IZIFG or I2IGH is opened, the solenoid I49FH will be deenergized with the result that the coupling OIFH will be opened by its spring I52. This arrangement makes it possible to group the folders I40 and I 4G with printing units on either the left or the right thereof. For example, by opening the main line shaft coupling 22GH, the seotionalizer I2IGH opens and the pilot shaft coup-ling SIFH opens. Then .the folder I4G can be run in operative cooperation with the printing units IID, HE and I IF. Also, by opening the main line shaft coupaper break relay 84.

pling 22FG, the sectionalizer I2IFG will open and the pilot shaft coupling SIFH will open.

operation with the printing units III-I and any other printing units to the right thereof.

To those versed in the art, it will be apparent that portions of the arrangement shown in Figure 6 are more or less conventional. in that a plurality of push-button stations INF, IIlG, and II4H each include a signal button i58, a "slow-inch button I55, an on button I51, 3. stop button I58, and a safe button I60, which ductor I 9 I through one pole of the transfer switch 81 to a conductor I 82, thence through a conductor Then the folder HG can be run in operative coin turn control master panel relays designated as signal relay 83, slowspeed relay II, on" relay 'I'I, stop relay BI, and safe relay 19. Also, the paper break switch H8 controls the The slow speed relay 1i and the high speed relay I4 are controlled by the contact strips 58 and the crosshead 66 of the master control assembly 82, and the drive motor relay I6, and the magnetic clutch relay 86. in controlled by the fast speed relay I4.

The arrangement of circuits departs from usual practice in that in place of all of the control circuits being connected through manually operated transfer switches, the various push-button stations, relays, paper break switches, the solenoids of the fast-speed relay II and the brakes .49, 5!, and 53 are connected to sections of the various conductors in the main control cable I II. Due to the plurality of switches of the sectionalizer being arranged to sectionalize the various conductors of the control cable, this arangement of circuits makes it possible to divide the whole printing machine control into separate controllers, each including a master control assembly 62, and the necessary push-button stations, contactors, relays, and paper break switches for a group of printing units and a folder. For example, if the coupling 22GH is opened, the sectionalizer IZIGH and pilot shaft coupling OIFH will be opened (Figures 1 and 6), in a manner previously described. Opening the sectionalizer I2 I GH separates the portion of each of the eleven control conductors that lies to the left of the sectionalizer from the portions of the conductors which lie to the right thereof. The push-button station IIlG for the folder G, which is to.

the left of the open sectionalizer, will operate with the push-button stations IMF and IIIE to control the master controller 56F. The pushbutton station I I4H located to the right of a sectionalizer IZ'IGH will have no effect on the master controller 56F, but will control a master controller, which although not shown, will be understood to be located to the right of the sectionalizers I2 IGH and lZIHJ.

As a specific example of one of the eleven conductors that are sectionalized by the opening of the sectionalizer IZIGH, it will be noted (Figure 6) that the stop push-button I58 in the pushbutton station I H to the right of the open sectionalizer switch is disconnected from the coil of the stop relay 8i of a master controller 56F clue to a switch I68GH of the sectionalizer I2 IGH being opened. On the other hand, the stop push-button I58 in the push-button stations I G and I HF are both capable of energizing the solenoid of the stop relay 8| on the master controller 55F. The circuits which accomplish this may be traced as follows: From line I22 through stop push-button I58F in the push-button station IMF, through a conductor II8F, to control to the line I22.- Since the sectionalizers I2 I E!" and IIIFG are closed, the push-buttons I58 in the push-button stations I E or I G will be in parallel with the push-button I58! in the station IMF, and thus be capable or energizing the solenoid ofthe stop relay II in the master controller 58F. Specifically, the stop button In of station IIIG is in rfrarallel with the stop button I581 of station I by the following circuits: (1) A circuit from the "stol button I58! of station IMF extends through the conductor I181", through the control cable conductor I28, a contact I68FG, and to the push-button I58 of stution I G and (2) A circuit from stop button I581 of station IMF through the conductor I22, a switch ISlFG, control-cable conductor I22, to the second push-button I58 of station IIIG.

Similarly, circuits can be traced for each of the control-cable conductors I22, I28, I22, I25, I28, I21, I28, I29, I20, iii, and I82, but it isbelieved that the previously described circuits are sumcient to explain the means herein disclosed for sectionalizlng the control of a multi-unit machine driven by a plurality of motors as herein shown. so that any desired grouping of units may be operated together.

In order to arrange the printing machine herein shown for printing products requiring three printing units, the printing units IIA, H3, and IID (Figure 1) are grouped with the folder C, and the units I IE, I IF, and IIH are grouped with the folder G by opening the coupling 22D! in the line shaft II between the units IID and HE. This arrangement provides two complete printing machines each having three printing units and a folder. Obviously a grouping including a greater or a lesser number of printing units with a folder may be arranged as desired, and in a machine having a greater number of units and folders in the line, more groups can be made. Opening the coupling 22DE in the main line shaft II, segregates the shaft sections "A, I13, I10, and MD from the sections I1E, I11", I16, and "H. Opening the coupling 22DE also opens the normany-open switch IlGDE, and deenergizes the coil of the normally-open sectionalizer I2IDE. Opening the sectionalizer I2IDE deenergizes the pilot-shaft coupling solenoid DE and allows the spring I52 to open the coupling IDE and separate the pilot line shaft into two parts one of which includes sections 88A, 883, "D, and the other, sections 89E, 89F, and 89H. Opening the sectidnalizer I2 IDE also disconnects all of the control conductors to the left of it from the control conductors to the right, so that push-buttons INA,

bus conductor I28, thence through a conductor I I88 to the coil of the stop relay 8|, through a con- IHB, INC and IND, the paper break switches IIGA, IISB, and SD, the master controller 523, and the dependent controllers 54A and 54D operate together to control motors 22A, 24B and 28D, to drive the printing units I I A, IIB, IID and the folder llC, while the push-buttons IIIE, IIIF, II 4G and III H, the paper break switch IISE, IIBF, IIGH, the master controller 581", and the dependent controllers "E and 52K, operate together and independently of the first mentioned equipment to control motor 22E, 22F and 22K to drive the printing units IIE, HF, HE and the folder HG. Thus the whole printing machine is automatically broken up into two separate printing machines by simply opening one coupling 22DE in the main line shaft II. Opening any one of the couplings 22AB, 223C, 22DE, 22'EI", 2m, 2261! or 2211.! will in like manner divide the printing machine into two separate printing machines composed ofunits located on the left and to the right of the open coupling.

If it is desired to operate printing units HB, IID, HE and HF as a group with holder I40, and clutches 22AB and 22FG are opened, it will be seen that two master motors are connected to the group. Both of the master controllers 56B and 56F will then function simultaneously and both master motors 24B and 24F will operate together for both slow speed and high speed operation of the machine. However means are provided to make either of these motors a dependent motor, and use only one master controller to control the group.

In order to operate the master motor 243 as a dependent motor and control it by the master controller 56F, the transfer switch on master panel 563 corresponding with the switch 81 on the master panel 56F (Figure 6) is closed toward the left. This energizes the magnetic clutch 26B and connects the machine driving shaft to the motor 243 in the same gear relationhip as it is connected to the dependent motors. This movement of the transfer switch also opens the control circuit of the slow speed contactor 59 of master controller 56B,'but the high speed contactor 6| will be energized by the action of the master controller 56F, and the motor 24B will then function as a dependent motor. It will be understood that the master panels 563 and 56F being identical, if the transfer switch of master panel 56F is closed toward the left, and the transfer switch of panel 56B is closed toward the right, then panel 563 will be a master panel and panel 56F will be made a dependent panel, to

operate the motor 24F as a dependent motor.

It will be understoodthat, although not shown, each printing unit may be provided with the usual web severing devices, emergency pushbuttons having independent circuits connected to the controller through an emergency transfer switch, magnetically operated cylinder brakes arranged to supply braking torque to the cylinders when emergency stops are made, flashing relays which operate-to flash the press unit lights before the press can be started and other usual features.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figure 7, a controller suitable for use with driving connections such as are illustrated in Figure 6 of the hereinbefore mentioned application Serial Number 369,793 is disclosed; The

motor 2 corresponds to the master motors 24B and 24F of the arrangement previously described herein. It is connected to the line shaft 11 through either of two magnetic clutches 242 or 243. When the motor 24I is started for the slow speed or web threading operation, the clutch 243 is closed and a pinion 241 carried on a shaft 246 of the motor 2 drives a gear 248 secured to a jack shaft 249 that carries a pinion 25!. The pinion 25| is in mesh with and drives a gear 250 secured to one part of the clutch 243. The other part of the clutch 243 is secured to a, gear 252 which is in mesh with and drives a'gear 253 secured to the main line shaft l1. When it is desired to run the printing machine at high or printing speed, the clutch 243 is deenergized and the clutch 242 is energized to connect the line shaft I] with the motor 24l through the spur gear 254 carried by a shaft 256 and through the gear 251 secured to the main line shaft 11. The shafts 246 and-256 are each provided with electrically operated brakes 244 and 255 respectively.

The two brakes 244 and 255 may be connected in parallel and correspond respectively to the brakes 49 and 5| of the arrangement shown in Figure 3.

The electrical devices for the arrangement shown in Figure 7 are similar to those shown in Figures 1 to 6 except that Figure 7 includes a normally-closed centrifugal switch 258, a con trol relay 259 with one normally-open and one normally-closed switch 259a and 25% respectively, a slow speed clutch relay 263 with normally-open switch 263a, an extra normallyclosed switch 14f attached to the fast speed relay (-8, an additional normally-open switch 'Hd attached to the slow speed relay H. Variations in the connections from the form shown in Figure 6, are indicated by the conductors shown in heavy lines, and substitute a conductor to carry the circuit of the slow speed relay 'H through the centrifugal switch 258. The centrifugal switch 258 acts during deceleration of the machine from printing speed, to prevent current being supplied to the slow speed gear clutch 243, until the machine is decelerated to a relatively slow speed, at which time the master motor is again energized.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and it will be further understood that each and every novel feature and combination present in or possessed by, the mechanism herein disclosed forms a part of the invention included in this application.

What we claim is:

1. A control system for a printing machine comprising a plurality of printing units and folders connected to a drive shaft, a first driving motor associated with one of the units and having gearing and connections to the drive shaft for driving the machine at slow speed and at running speeds, second driving motors for the remaining units having connections to the shaft for driving the machine at running speeds only; including a speed controller for each of the driving motors, a control cable section for each printing unit and for each folder, a sectionalizing switch for connecting the control cable section of each unit and each folder with the control cable section of an adjacent unit or folder, a control shaft for each speed controller, a pilot motor connected .to

'one of the control shafts, couplings to connect the several control shafts together, a master panel associated with the speed controller for the first driving motor to control the pilot motor and thereby operate all of the speed controllers, first actuating the first driving motor to operate the machine at slow speed, and subsequently actuating all of the motors to accelerate the machine and drive it at high speed, the pilot motor being reversely operable to decelerate the machine to an intermediate speed, and then again actuate the first driving motor to operate the machine at slow speed.

2. In a control system for a multi-unit machine having a plurality of printing units arranged in line, a driving shaft connected to all of the units, a pair of master motors connected to the driving shaft and arranged to drive the machine at all speeds, aplurality of dependent speeds only, a master controller for each of the 11 master motors, a dependent controller for each of the dependent motors, and a switch for converting one of the master controllers into a dependent controller, and thereby operating one of the master motors as a dependent motor.

3. In a control system for a multi-unit machine having a plurality of printing units and interposed folders arranged in line and each havin a control station, a sectional main driving shaft having a shaft section associated with each printing unit and with each folder, a plurality of motors one connected to drive each of the driving shaft sections associated with the printing units,

a controller associated with each motor, a sectional control cable having a section connected with each control station, a sectional pilot shaft having a shaft section associated with each controller, a plurality of couplings for joining adjacent main driving shaft sections, a plurality of sectionalizing switches for joining adjacent sections of the control cable, first and second couplings for joining adjacent pilot shaft sections, the first couplings being located between pilot shaft sections associated with controllers for adjacent printing units and the second couplings being located between pilot shaft sections associated with printing units that are separated by an interposed folder, means for operating each of the sectionalizing switches when the corresponding coupling in the driving shaft is operated, means for operating a first pilot shaft coupling when the corresponding sectionalizing switch is operated, and means for operating a second pilot shaft coupling from either of two of the sectionalizing switches.

4. A printing machine having a plurality of printing units arranged in a line with an occasional folder interposed between printing units, a sectional main driving shaft having a section associated with each printing unit and with each folder and having couplings between adjacent sections, a sectional control cable having a section associated with each printing unit and with each folder and having sectionalizing switches for connecting and disconnecting adjacent cable sections, a sectional pilot shafthaving a section associated with each printing unit, means actuated by operation of a main driving shaft coupling located between printing unit sections of the main driving shaft to operate a printing unit sectionalizing switch and pilot coupling located between corresponding cable and pilot shaft sections, means actuated by operation of a coupling located at either side of a folder driving shaft section to operate a corresponding folder sectionalizing switch, and means operated by either of the folder sectionalizing switches so operated to open the pilot shaft coupling located between the pilot shaft sections for the printing units between which the folder is interposed.

5. In a control system for a multi-unit printing machine having a plurality of printing units arranged in a line with an occasional folder interposed between printing units, a driving shaft having a section associated with each printing unit and with each folder and having couplings between adjacent sections, a plurality of master motors connected to some of the drive shaft sections and arranged to drive them at all operating speeds, a plurality of dependent motors connected to other of the driving shaft sections and arranged to drive them at normal running speeds only, a master controller for each of the master motors, a dependent controller for each of the dependent motors, switch means for converting 12 any master controller into a dependent controller and thereby operating a master motor as a dependent motor, and means for operating the couplings whereby a printing machine may be controlled by a selected number of master and dependent controllers.

6. In a control system for a multi-unit printing machine having a plurality of printing units arranged in a line with an occasional folder inter posed between printing units, a driving shaft connected to all of the units, a control cable having a section associated with each printing unit and a section associated with each folder and having sectionalizing switches for joining and separating adiacent cable sections, a pair of master motors connected to the driving shaft and arranged to drive the machine at all operating speeds, a plurality of dependent motors connected to the driving shaft and arranged to drive the machine at normal running speeds only, a master 'controller for each of the master motors, a dependent controller for each of the dependent motors, connections between each of the controllers and sections of the control cable, and a switch for converting one of the master controllers'into a dependent controller, and thereby operating one of the master motors as a dependent motor.

7. In a control system for a multi-unit printing machine having a plurality of printing units and folders arranged in line, a main drive shaft section for each printing unit and for each folder, each such shaft section having a coupling member at each end for engagement with a co-operating coupling member to join adjacent shaft sections together, plurality ofv motors each connected to a drive shaft section, a controller for each motor, a control station for each printing unit and for each folder; the combination therewith of a group of control conductors co-extensive with the line of printing units and folders and connected to the controllers and the control stations, sectionalizing switches corresponding to the pairs of coupling members, for dividing the group of control conductors into sections each connected to a controller and a, control station, and limit switches each operably connected to a drive shaft section coupling member for actuating a. corresponding sectionalizing switch when a pair of coupling members are disengaged, thereby automatically providing for the independent control of selected groups of printing units and folders solely by operation of drive shaft section coupling members,

8. In a control system for a printing machine having a plurality of printing units and folders arranged in line with a motor connected to each unit, a common driving shaft section for each unit and each folder with couplings for connecting the sections together for simultaneous operation of all units and folders, and for disconnect ing certain couplings for independent operation of selected groups of desired units and folders, a motor control station at each unit and folder, a group of control conductors co-extensive with the line of printing units and folders, and connected to each control station, and sectionalizing switches in the control conductors corresponding to the said couplings and each connected between two of the control stations; the combination therewith of a plurality of limit switches each operable by movement of one of the said couplings to actuate the corresponding sectionalizing switch when the coupling member is operated, thereby providing for the independent control of selected groups of printing units and 13 folderssolely by operation of the said coupling members.

9. In a control system for a, printing machine having printing units arranged in alignment and operably connected by a sectional drive shaft with couplings between the units and with a motor connected to each drive shaft section; the combination therewith of a control cable supported along the frames of the said units and extending throughout the length of the machine; sectionalizers in the control cable between the units, and limit switches each operated by the release of a coupling, for actuatingthe sectionalizers to interrupt the circuits of the control cable between the units adjacent the released coupling, and without other action permit independent operation of the units thus disconnected.

connect a printing unit on one side of the cou pling from a printing unit on the other side and electrically disconnect the control circuits of the said printing units on eachside of the coupling.

ALBERT J. HORTON.

WILLIAM ,Cf WIEKING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,616,760 Rodman et al Feb, 8, 1927 1,176,542 Goldenstein Mar. 21, 1916 1,734,077 Cline Nov. 5, 1929 2,356,160 Horton Aug. 22; 1944 2,183,720 Longee et a1. Dec. 19, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 352,649 Great Britain "July 16, 1931 426,719 Great Britain Apr. 4, 1935 14 switches between each of the units, each limit switch operated by disconnecting a coupling and connected to a sectionalizing switch, whereby disconnecting any coupling will mechanically dis- 

